Extensible spouts for containers



y 1, 1966 J. J. DE PUTRON 3,253,728

EXTENSIBLE SPOUTS FOR CONTAINERS Filed May 21, 1964 l NVENTOR.

5 axNEKs.

United States Patent 3,253,728 EXTENSIBLE SPOUTS FOR CONTAINERS John Joseph de Patron, 16110 Whitcomb, Detroit, Mich. Filed May 21, 1964, Ser. No. 369,272 4 Claims. (Cl. 215-73) This invent-ion relates to extensible spouts or spout-like applicators and, particularly, to a spout or applicator which is extensible through a cap on a container for extending the discharge end therefrom.

The present invention pertains to an adjustable spout or spout-like applicator in a cap which is attachable to a container. The spout is usually disposed within the container with only a small portion extending from the cap when in normal use and the liquid within the container may be dispensed from the end of the spout when so disposed. When it is desired to have the end extend a substantial distance from the cap, then it is withdrawn therefrom with the inner end secured to the cap so as to be in fixed relation thereto. In this position of the spout, it is possible to reach otherwise inaccessible places with the discharge end of the spout. It is within the purview of the invention to not only seal the spout with the ca but the seal may be so disposed as to retain the spout in any position of extension from the cap While at the same time sealing the spout in all positions with the cap.

Accordingly, the main objects of the invention are: to provide a cap for a container having a spout thereon which is in sealed relation to the cap in its inner and outer position; to provide a screw cap for a container having a spout thereon which is extendable therefrom and which has threads thereon which secure the stem to the cap in retracted and extended positions; to provide a cap for a container having an extensible spout thereon which is sealed thereto by ()-rings and retained in extended position by threads on the cap and spout; to provide a cap for a container having an extensible spout extending therethrough and sealed thereto by a resilient thread which seals the spout in any of its extended positions from said cap, and in general to provide an extensible spout for a cap which is simple in construction and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a container pro? vided with an extensible spout in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG- URE 1 taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a slightly modified form of construction;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view showing another modified form of construction; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the portion enclosed by circle A in FIGURE 4.

Several forms of construction by which the objects and advantages of this invention may be attained are shown in the drawing. The invention relates to an extensible spout or spout-like applicator; and, as shown in FIGURES l and 2, is adapted to be associated with a container which may be made of glass, plastic, or any other suitable material. The container 10 is provided with an open end 11 formed with exterior screw threads 12.

The open end of the container 10 is adapted to be closed by a cap or cap-like member 15 formed of any suitable material, but preferably of a plastic material. At its outer periphery, the cap 15 is provided with a flange 16 formed with interiorly arranged threads 17 3,253,728 Patented May 31, 1966 adaped to engage with the threads 12 on the open end of the container 10. When screwed in place, the cap 12 has a sealing engagement with the container and to insure such a seal, a sealing washer 18 may be provided between the cap and container.

The cap 15 is formed with a preferably integral inner annular flange or sleeve 20 provided with exteriorly arranged threads 21 adapted to engage the threads 22 on an extensible spout or spout-like container 23. In the form of construction illustrated in FIGURE 2, the threads 22 extend throughout the greater portion of the length of the spout 23 so that the spout or applicator 23 may be extended from the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to a position in which it extends substantially entirely beyond the cap 15. The inner end of the spout or applicator 23 is provided with a preferably annular shoulder 24 adapted to act as a stop and to engage the inner end of the flange or sleeve 20 when the applicator has been extended to its outermost position.

From the foregoing description, it will be clearly apparent that the spout or applicator may be readily adjusted with respect to the container so as to extend the desired distance therefrom and that in any position the contents of the container may flow into the spout or applicator through its inner open end 25 and out through a dispensing opening 26 formed in the end or tip of the spout or applicator.

The threaded connection 21-22 is such as to seal the joint between the cap 15 and the spout or applicator 23 while at the same time this threaded connection holds the spout at any of its adjusted positions.

sired to reach otherwise inaccessible places with the discharge end of the spout. Also, while the screw threads 22 are shown as extending the entire length of the spout, so that the spout may be adjusted to any one of a number of positions, if desired, the intermediate threads may be omitted so that the spout is held in two positions; i.e., either its innermost adjusted position, as shown in FIG- URE 1, or its outermost position in which the lowermost group of threads 22a engage the threads 21.

In FIGURE 3, a slightly modified form of construction is illustrated in which the cap 15 is formed with a somewhat longer inner annular flange or sleeve 39. The lowermost end of this flange 30 is provided with threads 31 adapted to be engaged by a series of threads 32 when the spout or applicator 23 is in its outermost or extended position.

In this form of construction, the cap 15 is formed with one or more annular recesses 33 adapted to receive O-ring type sealing elements 34. These O-rings frictionally engage the spout or applicator 23 to hold the same in any of its intermediate adjusted positions, but when the spout or applicator 23 is in its outermost or extended position, the threads 32 will be engaged with the threads 31 to securely hold the applicator or spout in its outermost position. The O-rings not only serve to frictionally hold the spout in any one of its adjusted positions, but also serve to seal the connection between the spout 23 and the annular flange or sleeve 30.

In FIGURES 4 and 5, another slightly modified form of construction is illustrated. In this form of construction, the cap 15 has an annular flange or collar 40 provided on its inner face with a helical recess or groove 41 which extends from adjacent the top side of the cap to the inner end of the collar or sleeve 40. Adhe'red within the helical groove or recess 41 is a helical strip 42 which is preferably made of neoprene or some other similar type material. This helical strip 42 engages threads 43 formed on the spout or applicator 23. This helical strip 42 engaging the threads 43 on the spout or applicator 23 provides a resilient threaded connection between the cap and spout and also serves to seal the joint between these parts. In this embodiment of the invention, the threads 43 extend substantially throughout the entire length of the spout or applicator so that by rotating the applicator, it may be adjusted to project the desired distance beyond the cap. Thus, the helical strip 42 in the form of construction shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 not only provides a threaded connection between the cap and spout, but also serves to seal the connection between these parts.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there is provided a simple but effective means for mounting an adjustable spout or spout-like applicator to a container wherein the spout may be used to discharge the contents of the container, either from an inner position or from an extended position. With the spout in the extended position, it is possible to reach otherwise inaccessible places with the discharge end of the spout. In all forms of construction, the spout is firmly held in any of its adjusted aperture with an annular flange about said aperture and an annular flange outwardly thereof about the edge of said body, both flanges extending from the same side of the body, internal threads on said flanges, and a spout of elongated tubular shape having an end portion of reduced diameter and a portion therebelow of larger diameter containing a thread which mates with the thread of the flange about the aperture, whereby the unthreaded projecting end of the spout may be inserted through said flanged aperture to a degree to permit the threads on the spout to be threaded into the threads thereof, said projecting end of said spout being closed by a semispherical end having an aperture extending therethrough on the axis of the spout and having an annular notch in proximity of the juncture between the projecting end and the semispherical portion for supporting a closure element for the spherical end.

2. A device as described in claim 1 in which sealing means is carried by the flange about the aperture in engagement with the spout.

3. A device as described in claim 1 in which a seal is formed between the threads of the spout and those of the flange about the aperture by a resilient sealing element.

4. In a spout and cap combination for a container, a cap having a circular body portion containing a central aperture with an annular flange about said aperture and an annular flange outwardly thereof about the edge of said body, both flanges extending from the same side of the body, internal threads on said flanges, and a spout of elongated tubular shape having an end portion of reduced diameter and a portion therebelow of larger diameter containing a thread which mates with the thread of the flange about the aperture, whereby the unthreaded projecting end of the spout may be inserted through said flanged aperture to a degree to permit the threads on the spout to be threaded into the threads thereof, the bottom end of the spout having a flange extending beyond the threads thereof to act as a stop for limiting the extension of the spout from the cap, said spout and cap being made from a hard plastic material, said projecting end of said spout being closed by a semispherical end having an aperture extending therethrough on the axis of the spout and having an annular notch in proximity of the juncture between the projecting end and the semispherical portion for supporting a closure element for the spherical end.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,393,331 10/1921 Wilsen 222525 2,772,822 12/1956 Phillips 222-520 2,791,357 5/1957 Nelson 222-525 2,792,975 5/1957 Yorke-r 222---545 X 3,059,821 10/ 1962 Kubiliunas 222520 3,157,323 11/1964 Kitterman 222520 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, GEORGE O. RALSTON,

Examiners.

V. A. TOMPSON, R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN A SPOUT AND CAP COMBINATION FOR A CONTAINER, A CAP HAVING A CIRCULAR BODY PORTION CONTAINING A CENTRAL APERTURE WITH AN ANNULAR FLANGE ABOUT SAID APERTURE AND AN ANNULAR FLANGE OUTWARDLY THEREOF ABOUT THE EDGE OF SAID BODY, BOTH FLANGES EXTENDING FROM THE SAME SIDE OF THE BODY, INTERNAL THREADS ON SAID FLANGES, AND A SPOUT OF ELONGATED TUBULAR SHAPE HAVING AN END PORTION OF REDUCED DIAMETER AND A PORTION THEREBELOW OF LARGER DIAMETER CONTAINING A THREAD WHICH MATES WITH THE THREAD OF THE FLANGE ABOUT THE APERTURE, WHEREBY THE UNTHREADED PROJECTING END OF THE SPOUT MAY BE INSERTED THROUGH SAID FLANGED APERTURE TO A DEGREE TO PERMIT THE THREADS ON THE SPOUT TO BE THREADED INTO THE THREADS THEREOF, SAID PROJECTING END OF SAID SPOUT BEING CLOSED BY A SEMISPHERICAL END HAVING AN APERTURE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH ON THE AXIS OF THE SPOUT AND HAVING AN ANNULAR NOTCH IS PROXIMITY OF THE JUNCTURE BETWEEN THE PROJECTING END AND THE SEMISPHERICAL PORTION FOR SUPPORTING A CLOSURE ELEMENT FOR THE SPHERICAL END. 